PURCHASE OF LOT 110 PALM ROAD, DIWAN IN THE DAINTREE LOWLAND RAINFOREST

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Action: Purchase and protection of Lot 110 Fan Palm Road (Lot 110 RP 738992) 

Area: 8.098 hectares 

Location: Diwan, Daintree Lowland Rainforest, Queensland

Vegetation type: Fan Palm dominated tropical rainforest classified as Regional Ecosystem 7.3.4. 

Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary, Bennett’s Tree-Kangaroo, and seven species of plants - China Camp Laurel (Beilschmiedia castrisinensis), Gray’s Walnut (Endiandra grayi), Noahs Walnut (Endiandra microneura), Climbing Pandan (Freycinetia percostata) Small grass (Isachne sharpii), Ant Plant (Myrmecodia beccarii),  Daintree Ryparosa (Ryparosa kurrangii) are listed on the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Zia with Fan Palms on Lot 110 Palm Road

Fan Palms (Licuala ramsayi) in the Daintree Rainforest are exceptionally beautiful and where they dominate, the rainforest is stunning. This is one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes and thanks to the support of many generous donors Lot 110 Palm Road is now protected forever. 

Fan Palm dominated tropical rainforest is classified as Regional Ecosystem 7.3.4. The Queensland government indicates “very little of this habitat (RE 7.3.4) remains” with an estimated 3,000 hectares prior to clearing and 1,000 hectares remaining in 2019. This Fan Palm dominated vegetation type solely occurs between Cardwell and Cape Tribulation and what remains, less than half is within reserves.

Fan Palm dominated rainforest exemplifies the World Heritage criteria for listing which states, natural areas must

“contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance”.

Lot 110 Palm Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

A subdivision was carved into the Daintree Lowland Rainforest in 1982. This created Palm Road and dozens of freehold properties. Then houses were built and occupied bringing domestic dogs and exotic plants. This has damaged one of the most significant remnants of Fan Palm dominated tropical rainforest. In 1988 the Daintree National Park was expanded and was included in the Wet Tropics Work Heritage Area. This should have seen Lot 110 Palm Road protected forever. However, two thirds of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, the land between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation had been carved up for a rural residential subdivision in 1982 and was excluded from World Heritage listing. 

Lot 110 Palm Road is located in Diwan in the heart of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. The property has a boundary on three sides with the Daintree National Park estate. Buying land in this location helps us to reverse the impacts of the disastrous 1980’s rural residential subdivision. We are focusing our efforts at Diwan as scientists have identified this area as being the highest priority for conservation.

Fan Palm dominated rainforest on Lot 110 Palm Road

Fan Palm dominated rainforests provide habitat for a number of rare and threatened flora and fauna, including the Southern Cassowary and Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo. Cassowaries are frugivores and the fruits of tropical rainforest plants represent 98% of their diet (they also eat invertebrates and fungi). As Fan Palms produce fruits their fruits between January and March they are particularly important to Cassowaries as many other plants are not fruiting at that time. 

Fan Palm dominated tropical rainforest now protected forever.

Before we made a commitment to purchasing Lot 110 Palm Road we thoroughly assessed its value to conservation. Consideration is given to biodiversity status (whether there is presence of endangered, threatened, or of concern vegetation), proximity to settled lots, canopy coverage, proximity to existing protected areas, and risk of future development. This assessment was undertaken by our conservation staff and specialist ecologist and botanist.

A vegetation survey by ecologist Kristopher Kupsch was undertaken on Lot 110 (RP 738992) Fan Palm Road, Diwan, on the 30th of April 2021.

The vegetation survey confirmed Lot 110 Palm Road as one of the most important locations for the conservation of Fan Palm dominated tropical rainforest. The importance of the property has also been confirmed by the presence of seven plants that are listed as Threatened species under conservation legislation and the existence of a number of regionally endemic species. Of particular importance was the occurrence of one of Australia’s rarest plants, Isachne sharpii (no common name), which is highly localised and Endangered. It was first identified in 2001 from specimens found less than 1km from Lot 110 and was only confirmed as a new species in 2010. 

Fan Palm dominated vegetation, only 1,000 hectares survive

The Fan Palm vegetation on Lot 110 Palm Road has rainforest tree species interspersed and often emerging above the Palms. The occasional tree species include, Northern Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis), Kuranda Quandong (Elaeocarpus bancroftii), Cassowary Plum (Cerbera floribunda), Golden Bouquet tree (Deplanchea tetraphylla). There are five species within the Pandanaceae (Pandanus family) within 3 genera and 8 species of Palms. The property has 199 species of native plant and this very high diversity of species and the presence of 7 plant species listed under conservation legislation highlights the importance of preserving Lot 110 Palm Road.

“Small areas on the very wet lowlands, especially between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, harbour plant species which are extremely restricted and uncommon. Many areas of this ecosystem are considered refugial in nature and are local centers of endemism. Many representatives of primitive families of flowering plants are present, including the monotypic family Idiospermaceae. The ecosystem is the habitat for many threatened plant species”.

International Union for the Conservation of Nature. 

Fan Palm dominate rainforest with emergent Kuranda Quandong

You can learn more about our project Land Purchase to Save the Daintree here. 

Please make a donation now to help purchase the next Daintree Rainforest property. 

A vegetation survey of Lot 2 Thornton Peak Drive has identified 230 species of plants including the Thornton Aspen, China Camp Laurel, and Ant Plant. 

We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions on the purchase and protection of Lot 2 Thornton Peak Drive in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.  

Lot 2 Thornton Peak Drive at Forest Creek is a freehold property and can be developed for housing just as nearby properties have been in the past. We must act now to purchase and protect this property and save the important habitat from the threat of development.

The spectacular old-growth rainforest at Lot 21 Camelot Close at Cape Tribulation justifies its immediate purchase and protection. 

We’ve provided answers to the most frequently asked questions on the purchase and protection of Lot 21 Camelot Close in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.  

Lot 505 Cedar Road at Cow Bay is a freehold property and can be developed for housing just as nearby properties have been in the past. We must act now to purchase and protect this property and save this important rainforest from the threat of development.

The flora of the Daintree contains an almost complete record of the evolution of plant life on Earth, including extremely ancient flowering plant families found nowhere else. We are passionate about the conservation of the plants found in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. We hope you'll enjoy learning about these plants as much as we have and will want to see the Daintree Lowland Rainforest protected forever. 

PURCHASE OF LOT 505 CEDAR ROAD, COW BAY IN THE DAINTREE LOWLAND RAINFOREST

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Action: Purchase and protection of Lot 505 Cedar Road (RP 738173) 

Area: 1.00 hectares

Location: Cow Bay, Daintree Lowland Rainforest, Queensland

Vegetation type: Regional Ecosystem 7.3.20e is listed as “Of Concern” under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.

Threatened Species: Southern Cassowary

Lot 505 Cedar Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

Lot 505 Cedar Road in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, is now protected forever thanks to the generosity of donors. Being a freehold property, subject to approval by Douglas Shire Council, Lot 505 Cedar Road could have been developed for housing just as nearby properties have been in the past. As well as protecting the special plants and animals that live on Lot 505, this purchase also ensures connectivity across the landscape. Increased urbanisation around Cow Bay will further disrupt natural processes in the region by fragmenting habitat and creating edge effect. The core to edge ratio of the rainforest patches is integral in maintaining sound functioning forests. 

The settlement on the purchase of Lot 505 Cedar Road will occur on the 18th November 2021.

Kelvin Davies at Lot 505 Cedar Road, Cow Bay

Lot 505 is covered in important vegetation, listed as being ‘of concern’, and it is a known habitat for the endangered Cassowary. A vegetation survey was undertaken of Lot 505 Cedar Road, Cow Bay on the 18^th June 2021 by ecologist Kristopher Kupsch. The vegetation on Lot 505 Cedar Road is remnant and all sections of Lot 505 have vegetation that has never experienced clear felling since European colonisation. The survey identified 117 native plant species. Please see the results of the survey here. 

Daintree Foambark (Jagera madida) is one of those special plants found on site. A local, endemic tree, the Daintree Foambark occurs only in the lowland rainforests between Julatten (southwest of Port Douglas) and Bloomfield. It is identifiable by its pinkish, ferny new grown and often by its single, straight stem which seldom branches. Its trunk is often completely covered in lichen of various shades of grey.

A feature of the property is the many large trees including, Grey Teak (Gmelina dalrympleana), Red Beech (Dillenia alata), Porcelain Fruit (Fagraea cambagei), Native Gardenias (Atractocarpus fitzalanii and A.sessilis) and Alligatorbark (Calophyllum sil). Please see over 50 photos of Lot 505 here. 

Cassowary and chick in the Daintree Rainforest

Lot 505 has Regional Ecosystem 7.3.20e which is listed as “Of Concern” under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act 1999. The vegetation on Lot 505 also provides habitat for the Endangered Southern Cassowary. Lot 505 Cedar Road has many native plants that produce fruits for Cassowaries and other species of rainforest birds. 12 species of native Laurel are found on Lot 505. These trees produce fleshy fruits favoured by Cassowaries. 

 Land clearing for housing development in the Daintree Rainforest in June 2021

A subdivision was carved into the Daintree Lowland Rainforest in 1982. This created Cedar Road and hundreds of rural residential lots in Cow Bay residential area. Many houses have been built which fragments the rainforest and occupation brings domestic dogs and exotic plants. This has damaged one of the most significant area of tropical rainforests in Australia. A Daintree Rainforest property was cleared for housing in June 2021. The property in Cow Bay is only 500 m from Lot 505 Cedar Road.

Large Fruited Red Mahogany (Eucalyptus pellita) on Lot 505 Cedar Road. 

In 1988 the Daintree National Park was expanded and was included in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. This should have seen the land at Lot 505 Cedar Road protected forever. However, two-thirds of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest, the land between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation had been carved up for a rural residential subdivision in 1982 and was excluded from World Heritage listing. 

Lot 505 Cedar Road is located at Cow Bay in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. Buying land in this location helps us to reverse the impacts of the disastrous 1980’s rural residential subdivision. We are focusing our efforts at Cow Bay as scientists have identified this area as providing an “Essential habitat for the Endangered Southern Cassowary”.

Buying and protecting Lot 505 Cedar Road at Cow Bay will be a fantastic outcome for conservation as it will prevent another house from being built in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.  

With the help of thousands of people, in Australia and around the world we've raised the funds needed to purchase eleven properties since June 2019. Now we are ready to save Lot 505 from the threat of development and all that is needed is your support. 

Please make a donation to purchase and protect the next property in the Daintree Lowland Rainforest.

A vegetation survey of Lot 505 Cedar Road has identified 117 species of native plants. The 12 species of native Laurel found on Lot 505 provide an important source of fruits for the Endangered Southern Cassowary and many other bird species.